Storage has become very important with the number of households with more stuff than they know what to do with. People need places to stash items for later use, emergencies, or just because they don’t want to get rid of them. Storage structures such as sheds and garages can be built at home, but ensuring it’s secure and durable is essential.
Designing a storage place can be tricky because it needs to provide protection against the elements and possible intruders while remaining affordable for most people. One of the best designs is bar joist trusses, which are easy to construct and support heavy weights (such as large items like cars or heavy appliances) without needing beams to hold them up.
What You Must Look for When Designing Your Own Storage Space
- Roofing
Many materials can be used, but metal roofing panels are one of the best choices since they’re strong, durable, lightweight, inexpensive (compared to other types), and weather-resistant. Not only that, but they’re also available in an assortment of colors, so you don’t have to settle for a dull silver or gray roof.
Choosing the right type of roofing is also important since leaks not only allow water to get inside where it can rust whatever you have stored there but can also damage whatever structure you used to hold up your storage structure. A good tip is that while some designs use trusses for support, others use pre-fabricated wall panels. Either way, they should be made out of strong materials to support the weight being held up by them.
- Doors
Most storage sheds are designed with more than one door, which is great because it allows easy access for multiple people or machines at once. At least two doors are usually built-in, if not more. Just be sure that each one locks so that no one else can get in to take your stuff.
Metal doors are often used in storage buildings because they’re popular for their durability, low maintenance (you never have to paint them or worry about fading), and affordability (compared to other types). One of the best kinds is roll-up doors made of metal sheets that roll up in panels to open the doorway.
- Windows
Another common feature found inside storage spaces is windows. They’re great for ventilation purposes, but it’s just as easy to mount a fan there for additional cooling power. Just be sure that whatever window you choose has strong bars over it so no outsiders can steal what you have stored there.
- Fences
Fences are good for creating boundaries around your building and keeping your belongings inside, and they help protect against intruders. Just be sure that it is tall enough and has strong metal bars covering the top so that no one else can crawl over or cut their way through to get to your stuff.
What About Ventilation?
Most storage spaces don’t have ventilation systems, but these are great for allowing fresh air inside while keeping out rain and other outdoor elements. The best designs include louvers that you can open up to get more airflow into your structure without letting too much of the weather in during storms or other bad conditions.
If it’s possible, be sure that your building is elevated off the ground (and not just sitting on top of it like most garages). This allows water to flow underneath instead of settling where the floor meets the walls and can cause damage by rusting whatever you’ve stored there if it gets wet enough. Being off the ground also means that water run-off will flow away from your building instead of downhill, which helps prevent leaks.
Covering Security Concerns
While security features are not included in most storage sheds, they can be added if you want to give your stuff an extra layer of protection. Rolling metal doors that lock easily is one option, as well as glass windows with protective bars on top. So no one can break them and climb inside to take your things.
Be sure to keep any building clean inside by sweeping the floor occasionally or vacuuming it so that pests (like rodents) don’t have places to hide and make nests. This also makes it easier for you to see what’s collecting dust which will eventually cause problems if left unattended—preventing damage from rust or mold before it happens is much easier than dealing with the aftermath later.
Final Thoughts
Designs that require little or no maintenance are best for storage places since you won’t have to worry about the interior getting dirty and will instead just need to deal with rainwater, snowmelt, and other bad elements from the outside. To get the most durability out of your building, make sure to build it away from trees so that large limbs don’t fall on top of it during storms or other harsh weather conditions.
If you properly construct a building using durable materials like metal siding and strong trusses for support, ventilation systems, security features, and proper drainage for protection against leaks, you should have a good storage building that will keep your belongings safe from harm.
